Thermostat E46 problem?

All the BMW's I've ever driven have always have their temperature guages absolute dead centre. E32's, E34's, E38's, E39's... Always the same.. dead centre.

The only exception was my last E34 530, which was slightly over when you drove hard, and the first winter it struggled to get above cold... Thermostat was stuck open at about 80%... Hence in summer it 'seemed' more or less ok, but in winter was no good at all.

I'd get the thermostat changed, its not an expensive part, nor an expensive job.
 
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We shall see at 17:20ish. It is only when I am driving around. Stationary in neutral it stays dead centre. Lets hope he does not test it this way and assume like the garage that it is okay. I am sure he will take it for a test drive and see if unsure ?
 
He is looking at the ECU for a fault before he does anything because the thermostat is electronic. I assume the dealer has already done this though right which is why they have concluded that because it has not throwed up a fault it is not faulty?!?
 
thepharcyde said:
He is looking at the ECU for a fault before he does anything because the thermostat is electronic. I assume the dealer has already done this though right which is why they have concluded that because it has not throwed up a fault it is not faulty?!?
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What? It shouldn't throw up a fault code I wouldn't think.
 
[TW]Fox;10697521 said:
What? It shouldn't throw up a fault code I wouldn't think.
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He is saying that he is looking for a fault code because it is electronic, before doing anything under warranty. That wont prove if it is running inefficiently though only if it has stopped working altogether?
 
[TW]Fox;10697535 said:
If he gives you any hassle offer to let him drive the car, with you in, so you can demonstrate the fault.
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Do you know if emergency service covers this? it has been 5 mins, he would have rung at the bell I guess if 'computer says no'
 
I don't know if it covers that or not - the only time I used Emergency Service they took my car on a flatbed to the dealer and arranged me a hire car.
 
I cannot even see out of the window what he is doing, and dont wanna hastle him. It is the same chap who came out when I locked my only key in the boot 1st day of having my previous auto 330 :D he was not mightly impressed
 
Get off the computer and get out there with him!

Watch him work, establish what he is doing and why, it is your car you have every right to ask questions and understand things, that is what you pay for these services for, to give YOU service when the car goes wrong.
 
Told you it was broke :p

Can't believe he has done a complete thermostat change in the dark in 30 minutes though. I mean wow. BMW charge several hours of labour for that job?
 
Glad you got it sorted. Mine is in tuesday for the exact same thing. It's Jez's old 330 so its been like that since i picked it up in March.

Again same thing, BMW dealer said was normal. So this thread and spoke to my indy and he said dud thermostat and to bring it in before it went!

Ce la vie lol
 
Right!

On Monday, call the Service Manager and if you can't get through the DP of your local BMW dealer and explain the hassle you have gone through following their incorrect diagnosis of your 'non' problem, and ask for their view of things. To anyone who knows or has any experience of this problem it was bloody obvious, as I stated in my first post, and you should be able to rely on BMW servicing to at least be as informed, hopefully much more so!
 
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